Nearly half of drivers find their own cars confusing, don’t even know how to pop the hood

LONDON — When people dream about winning the lottery, many say they’ll buy a fancy car with their winnings. While it might be a lovely fantasy, a new survey finds most people wouldn’t know the first thing about their new ride. A poll of 2,000 British drivers reveals 44 percent actually find their car “confusing.” Half say they don’t even know the size of their engine, how to pop the hood or refill their windshield washing fluid.

(Article by Chris Melore republished from StudyFinds.org)

The OnePoll survey finds three in 10 motorists are also unaware of how to put air in their tires. One in four have no clue how to check their tire’s tread depth or locate the engine oil dipstick. When it comes to speed, a mind-boggling 41 percent of drivers don’t know the difference between horsepower and miles per hour. One in 10 also don’t have a good grasp on how many miles per gallon their car gets.

All these little technical issues make buying a car an even more stressful process than starting a new job and taking tests, the survey commissioned by YesAuto finds.

“We’re not all ‘petrol heads’ – but that shouldn’t make buying a car harder, or more strenuous,” YesAuto’s U.K. business director Stuart Palombo says in a statement.

“From the data we have gathered, many people cannot confidently navigate a car such as popping the hood or topping up the screen wash. This shows that motorists skills are lacking which makes the car buying process harder as over half of adults have to ask for help when purchasing a car.”

Drivers would rather focus on their car’s color

One of the biggest reasons drivers find cars confusing is the overwhelming amount of technical jargon that goes into the maintenance and upkeep. While it might be too tough to learn, nearly a quarter of respondents say their lack of car knowledge embarrasses them.

Over half the poll (55%) wished buying a new car was easier. Many add they don’t know what questions to ask or what things should cost. To this point, drivers say they worry more about the color of their new ride than what kind of tires it uses. Drivers also report focusing more on the size of the trunk than simple mechanical features.

Overall, the poll finds drivers usually spend about two weeks before settling on a vehicle purchase.

Read more at: StudyFinds.org